I. ˈrä-kət, rä-ˈket noun
Etymology: Middle French roquette, from Old Italian rochetta, diminutive of ruca arugula, from Latin eruca
Date: 1530
: any of several plants of the mustard family: as
a. : arugula
b. : dame's rocket
II. ˈrä-kət noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Italian rocchetta, literally, small distaff, from diminutive of rocca distaff, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rocko distaff
Date: 1611
1.
a. : a firework consisting of a case partly filled with a combustible composition fastened to a guiding stick and propelled through the air by the rearward discharge of the gases liberated by combustion
b. : a similar device used as an incendiary weapon or as a propelling unit (as for a lifesaving line)
2. : a jet engine that operates on the same principle as the firework rocket, consists essentially of a combustion chamber and an exhaust nozzle, carries either liquid or solid propellants which provide the fuel and oxygen needed for combustion and thus make the engine independent of the oxygen of the air, and is used especially for the propulsion of a missile (as a bomb or shell) or a vehicle (as an airplane)
3. : a rocket-propelled bomb, missile, projectile, or vehicle
III. ˈrä-kət
Date: 1837
transitive verb
: to convey or propel by means of or as if by a rocket
intransitive verb
1. : to rise up swiftly, spectacularly, and with force
rocket ed to the top of the list
2. : to travel rapidly in or as if in a rocket